A Mexican court has declared Oaxaca's
ban on gay marriage to be invalid.

The First Chamber of the Supreme Court
of Justice (La Primera Sala de la Suprema Corte de Justicia de la
Nacion) on Tuesday declared unconstitutional Article 143 of the Civil
Code of Oaxaca, which defines marriage as “a contract between one
man and one woman” that seeks to “perpetuate the species.”

Plaintiffs in the case are 39 gay men
and lesbians who wish to marry in the state.

The implications of the ruling remain
uncertain. That is, while officials may no longer use Article 143 to
deny a marriage license to a gay couple, the state has not legalized
such unions. But Alex Ali Mendez Diaz, a lawyer for the plaintiffs,
said the decision meant that gay couples in the state can marry
through a court order.

Gay couples can marry in Mexico City –
where lawmakers approved a marriage bill in 2009 – and the state of
Quintana Roo. Other states recognize gay couples with civil unions.